I have been watching TG Software (a procedural terrain-generating program) over the years, and finally bought my own copy this week, and I have been experimenting for a while with 3D matte paintings (entirely created in 3D) and I am going to start using it for film, and other related fields.

This software has great potential for future 3D Matte Paintings/Photo Real CG Environments, where 3D artists will have the freedom to fly trough these environments easily, instead of complicated projection set ups. WATCH THIS EXAMPLE MOVIE which is just the raw 3D render with no tweaks and/or adjustments.

This software is already being used in Movies such as Columbia Pictures' Stealth with a combination of other software for various render passes.

3D artists can create these scenes, and render stills, that can be quickly painted on top of these renders, creating backdrops that can easily be used on lock off's or even with a simple projection on to flat geometry for some parallax. By creating various passes generated with other 3D packages, the final result after the compositing stage with several render passes will have impressive and highly promising results.

The new version of TG2 features a realtime 3D preview , a Populator system allows you to easily place millions of instances of plant models in a scene. Also the preview will feature an advanced hybrid micropolygon renderer with powerful multi-angle displacement capabilities.

TG2 also will have multiple cloud layers which are volumetric 3D clouds, and you will b able to use third party vegetation models, and render extremely detailed photo real landscapes.

In the very near future, we will be able to create photo real environments in 3D within a very short amount of time, using Next Gen 3D software packages like these, combined with other 3rd party plug-ins, and especially multiple processing computer systems that will hit the market very soon.

Again, this is only an example of where things are today, and very soon the possibilites in 3D will become endless :D

THE FUTURE OF MATTE PAINTINGS IS VERY EXCITING, CREATING VIRTUAL WORLDS/ ENDLESS DIGITAL LANDSCAPES IN 3D. AGAIN REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE RAW CG RENDERS WITHOUT ANY COMPOSITING/ADJUSTMENTS. THINK ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITES. ESPECIALLY BEING ABLE TO CREATE REFLECTION MAPS, PANO'S, AND THE LIST GOES ON . . :wink: . . . . . . .

The future of matte painting in 3d??? I hope not.
I would rather create complex camera projections using real textures from real life photos and brush-work than to use procedurally textured models like terragens. There's a loooong way to go before computers can generate that soft organic feel that looks right. If it DOES come to that, then we can call it just "3d" the words matte painting would be gone. Sad day if it comes to that. And the 3d artists will do all the "matte paintings", if u can call them that at that point.
I have no negative views about 3d, don't get me wrong. Using it to help build a shot but not at the extent of using JUST 3d applications. Esp terragen.
my 2 cents.

Remember, that regardless of CG render passes looking failry convincing, there always is going to be various compositing techniques to create the final image.

Look at Matte Paintings back when they use to paint on glass, and look how much 3D is involved now, and what is going to happen within the next 10 years. Regardless of our opinions, the technology will grow, and new software will be written . . . The reason I wanted to get into Matte paintings was also the fact that I fell in love with the original paintings done by master artists . . . but I also like the fact that this is creating new ways of approaching Matte Paintings. I still use my artistsic skill, and Matte Painting experience, to apply it to 3D setups, and try creating various realism effects, just using a different CG tools.

I also do quite a bit of work for video games, where these techinques can compliment the approach, since it is still stylized, especially the fact that it would take me a lot less time to create a great base for a seamless 180, and/or 360 sky map, that I can spend time integrating photo elements, and/or paint additional sections. These renders would also compliment CG movies, cinematics, etc.

I will continue my experiements and will share future results with others . . . Also if you read my first post, this is related to landscapes as a rendering tool.

I also strongly believe that 3D artists are becoming more and more aware of the 2D approach and I know many very talented 3D artist that can also paint . . . My point is combining both skills and taking advantage of technology : )

Another Software Vue 5, worth taking a look at their studies, and coding.

I was refering to the distand render results, I think it is a good way to get a base for our work, let me know if you want to mess around in it, I'll share my set up files. It sure has potential . . . especially the controls for lighting, fog, and atmosphere is impressive, as well as the sun control, and it's glow across the surface map . . .Yes, the close up is not there yet . . . But hey for only US$99, this is a really cool program, and I actually met the person who wrote the code for this back when I use to work at Digital Domain, and I know he is still working on the code, and version 2 which is coming the end of this year, has volumetric clouds . . . impressive stuff

I use to use this application for fun a couple of years back when i was in high school and could not get my hands on a good 3D app, there stiill is a free verison out there http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/

not sure now much less you get in the free version or if it has even been updated in a while, I rememeber the render times were not to horrendous even on my old windows 98 box

just thought if anyone want to try it out for fun i would give the link to the free version, its not very intuitive or at least when I was using it, it wasnt.